Wireless communication device and metal article

ABSTRACT

A wireless communication device includes a wireless IC device, a dielectric substrate, and a metal plate. A radiation conductor coupled to the wireless IC device is provided on the front surface of the dielectric substrate, and a ground conductor connected to the radiation conductor through an interlayer connection conductor is provided on a back surface. The dielectric substrate is fixed to the metal plate via an insulating adhesive, and is crimped by a conductive member. The front and back surfaces of the metal plate are electrically connected to each other by the conductive member, and when a high-frequency signal is supplied from the wireless IC device, a high-frequency signal current on the front surface side of the metal plate is conducted to the back surface side of the metal plate through a surface boundary portion between the conductive member and the metal plate, and radiated as a high-frequency signal.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a wireless communication device and a metal article, and in particular, relates to a wireless communication device used for a RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) system and a metal article including the wireless communication device.

2. Description of the Related Art

In recent years, as an information management system for articles, there has been put into practical use an RFID system in which communication is established between a reader/writer generating an induction magnetic field and an RFID tag (also referred to as a wireless communication device) attached to an article on the basis of a non-contact method utilizing an electromagnetic field and predetermined information is transmitted. This RFID tag includes a wireless IC chip that stores therein the predetermined information and processes a predetermined wireless signal and an antenna (radiator) that transmits and receives a high-frequency signal.

As an RFID tag that is operable even if it is disposed in proximity to a metal plate, a metal-compatible tag described in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2007-272264 is known. In this metal-compatible tag, a loop antenna conductor is wound around a plate-shaped dielectric member and an RFID chip is mounted in a gap portion formed in a portion of the loop antenna conductor. In addition, a gap is also formed on a surface side opposite to the chip mounting surface of the loop antenna conductor. When this metal-compatible tag is stuck to a metal plate, a high-frequency signal current flows in both the loop antenna conductor and the metal plate through capacitive coupling between the conductor of the back surface of the dielectric member and the metal plate.

In the metal-compatible tag, while a radiation gain on the front surface side (tag mounting surface) of the metal plate is secured to some extent, there is a problem that a radiation gain on the back surface side of the metal plate is small and a communication distance is short. That trend becomes more noticeable with an increase in the thickness of the metal plate, and, for example, it has been hard to use the metal-compatible tag for a metal article such as a stepladder, a building material, or the like.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Therefore, preferred embodiments of the present invention provide a wireless communication device and a metal article in which a radiation gain is large not only on a surface mounted to a metal plate or a metal member but also on a surface opposite to the mounting surface.

A wireless communication device according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention includes a wireless IC device that processes a high-frequency signal, a radiation conductor coupled to the wireless IC device, a ground conductor connected to the radiation conductor, and a metal plate that includes first and second main surfaces arranged such that the ground conductor is coupled to the first main surface and a portion that defines a radiation element, wherein the metal plate includes a current path portion arranged to conduct a high-frequency signal current on a first main surface side to a second main surface side when a high-frequency signal is supplied from the wireless IC device through the radiation conductor and the ground conductor.

According to a second preferred embodiment of the present invention, a metal article includes a wireless communication device and a metal member, wherein the wireless communication device includes a wireless IC device that processes a high-frequency signal, a radiation conductor coupled to the wireless IC device, and a ground conductor connected to the radiation conductor, wherein the metal member includes first and second main surfaces, the ground conductor is coupled to the first main surface, and the metal member includes a current path portion arranged to conduct a high-frequency signal current on a first main surface side to a second main surface side when a high-frequency signal is supplied from the wireless IC device through the radiation conductor and the ground conductor.

In the wireless communication device, since the high-frequency signal current on the first surface side (the mounting surface side of the wireless communication device) of the metal plate or the metal member is conducted to the second surface side through the current path portion, a radiation gain becomes large not only on the first surface side of the metal plate or the metal member but also on the second surface side. Therefore, it is possible to secure a communication distance not only on the first surface side but also on the second surface side.

According to various preferred embodiments of the present invention, a radiation gain becomes large not only on a surface mounted to a metal plate or a metal member but also on a surface opposite to the mounting surface.

The above and other elements, features, steps, characteristics and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments with reference to the attached drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1A and 1B illustrate a stepladder as a metal article equipped with a wireless communication device, wherein FIG. 1A is a perspective view, and FIG. 1B is a back surface view in a folding state.

FIGS. 2A-2C illustrate a wireless communication device according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, wherein FIG. 2A is a plan view, FIG. 2B is a cross-sectional view, and FIG. 2C is a bottom view.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating a radiation conductor and a ground conductor included in a wireless communication device according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an operating principle of the wireless communication device according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 5A and 5B are explanatory diagrams illustrating a directivity and a gain, wherein FIG. 5A illustrates a preferred embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 5B illustrates a comparative example.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view illustrating a wireless IC chip defining a wireless IC device.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view illustrating a state in which the wireless IC chip is mounted, as the wireless IC device, on a feed circuit substrate.

FIG. 8 is an equivalent circuit diagram illustrating an example of a feed circuit.

FIG. 9 is a plan view illustrating a laminated structure of the feed circuit substrate.

FIGS. 10A-10C illustrate a wireless communication device according to another preferred embodiment of the present invention, wherein FIG. 10A is a plan view, FIG. 10B is a cross-sectional view, and FIG. 10C is a bottom view.

FIGS. 11A-11C illustrate a wireless communication device according to a further preferred embodiment of the present invention, wherein FIG. 11A is a cross-sectional view, FIG. 11B is an operating principle explanatory diagram, and FIG. 11C is a perspective view of a radiation conductor and a ground conductor.

FIGS. 12A-12C illustrate a wireless communication device according to yet another preferred embodiment of the present invention, wherein FIG. 12A is a perspective view, FIG. 12B is a cross-sectional view, and FIG. 12C is a perspective view of a radiation conductor and a ground conductor.

FIGS. 13A-13C illustrate a wireless communication device according to an additional preferred embodiment of the present invention, wherein FIG. 13A is a plan view, FIG. 13B is a cross-sectional view, and FIG. 13C is a perspective view of a radiation conductor and a ground conductor.

FIGS. 14A and 14B illustrate a wireless communication device according to another preferred embodiment of the present invention, wherein FIG. 14A is a cross-sectional view, and FIG. 14B is an operating principle explanatory diagram.

FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a wireless communication device according to another preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 16 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a wireless communication device according to yet another preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 17 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a wireless communication device according to a further preferred embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of a wireless communication device and a metal article according to the present invention will be described with reference to attached drawings. In addition, in each drawing, the same symbols are assigned to a common component and a common portion, and the redundant descriptions thereof will be omitted.

A stepladder 1 illustrated in FIGS. 1A and 1B is a non-limiting example of a building metal article, and includes a top board portion 2 and a foldable leg portion 3. A wireless communication device 10 is firmly attached to the back side of the top board portion 2 with being stuck and crimped thereto, for example. As described later according to a first preferred embodiment to a ninth preferred embodiment of the present invention, the wireless communication device 10 communicates with a reader/writer of an RFID system, and performs information management for the stepladder 1. In addition, a portion of the top board portion (metal plate) 2 functions as a radiation element of the wireless communication device 10. Hereinafter, the wireless communication device 10 will be described in detail.

First Preferred Embodiment

A wireless communication device 10A according to a first preferred embodiment is preferably used for the communication of a UHF band, and includes a wireless IC device 50, a dielectric substrate 20, and a metal plate 30, as illustrated in FIGS. 2A-2C. The wireless IC device 50 processes a high-frequency signal, and the detail thereof will be described in detail later with reference to FIG. 6 to FIG. 9. The dielectric substrate 20 includes thermosetting resin such as epoxy resin or the like, thermoplastic resin such as polyimide or the like, or ceramic such as LTCC or the like (may be a magnetic material), and is preferably configured as a single-layer substrate or a multilayer substrate, for example. For example, the metal plate 30 is the top board portion 2 of the stepladder 1.

The dielectric substrate 20 preferably has a rectangular parallelepiped shape including a first surface (front surface) and a second surface (back surface), a radiation conductor 25 is provided on the front surface, and a ground conductor 26 is provided on the back surface. As illustrated in FIG. 3, the radiation conductor 25 and the ground conductor 26 are electrically connected to each other through a plurality of interlayer connection conductors (via hole conductors) 27 provided in the dielectric substrate 20. The radiation conductor 25 and the ground conductor 26 preferably are defined by thin-film conductor patterns including metal foils such as copper, aluminum, or the like, or alternatively, are preferably defined by thick-film conductor patterns that include conductive paste containing powder made of silver, copper, or the like.

The radiation conductor 25 and the ground conductor 26 are separated from each other by gaps 25 a and 26 a in the center portion of the dielectric substrate 20. A projecting power feeding portion 25 b is located in the gap 25 a in the radiation conductor 25, and the wireless IC device 50 is coupled to the power feeding portion 25 b. This coupling is electromagnetic field coupling or electrical direct coupling (DC connection).

In each of the dielectric substrate 20 and the metal plate 30, through holes 21 and 31 are formed to penetrate from the front thereof to the back thereof. The back surface of the dielectric substrate 20 is caused to adhere to the front surface of the metal plate 30 through insulating adhesive 22, for example. Furthermore, a conductive members 35 inserted into the through holes 21 and 31 is individually crimped at the front surface portion of the dielectric substrate 20 and the back surface portion of the metal plate 30, and hence the dielectric substrate 20 is firmly fixed to the metal plate 30. This conductive member 35 defines a current path portion electrically conducting the front surface and back surface of the metal plate 30 to each other. Furthermore, the conductive member 35 is also electrically conducted to the ground conductor 26. It is preferable that the conductive member 35 is made of a material having the same electrical conductivity as or a higher electrical conductivity than the electrical conductivity of the metal plate 30.

A loop-shaped electrode 28 is disposed in the dielectric substrate 20 (refer to FIG. 2B). More specifically, the loop-shaped electrode 28 includes the radiation conductor 25, the ground conductor 26, and the plural interlayer connection conductors 27 starting from the power feeding portion 25 b, and is capacitively coupled at the gap 26 a portion. Namely, the ground electrode 26 is capacitively coupled at the gap 26 a portion through the metal plate 30. In this loop-shaped electrode 28, a loop plane that is the circling plane thereof is disposed so as to be perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to the front surface of the metal plate 30. Since the gap 26 a portion is included, when, for example, the dielectric substrate 20 preferably is formed using flexible material, it is easy to cause the dielectric substrate 20 to bend.

In the wireless communication device 10A having the above-described configuration, when a predetermined high-frequency signal is transmitted from the wireless IC device 50, a high-frequency signal current a flows along the loop-shaped electrode 28, as illustrated in FIG. 4. In addition, a high-frequency signal current b is excited to flow by the high-frequency signal current a, in a portion located outside of the interlayer connection conductor 27 of the ground conductor 26. Owing to this high-frequency signal current b, a high-frequency signal current c flows in a region in the proximity of a surface boundary between the conductive member 35 and the metal plate 30. More specifically, the high-frequency signal current a flowing through the ground conductor 26 is conducted to the back surface side of the metal plate 30 with the surface boundary portion between the conductive member 35 and the metal plate 30 serving as a current path portion.

As a result, as illustrated in FIG. 5A, not only the radiation A of the high-frequency signal from the radiation conductor 25 to the front surface side of the metal plate 30 occurs but also the radiation B of the high-frequency signal to the back surface side of the metal plate 30 occurs. More specifically, it is possible to establish communication with the reader/writer from the front and back surfaces of the metal plate 30. A high-frequency signal radiated from the reader/writer in the RFID system and received by the metal plate 30 is supplied to the wireless IC device 50 through the surface boundary portion between the conductive member 35 and the metal plate 30 and the loop-shaped electrode 28, and the wireless IC device 50 operates. On the other hand, a response signal from the wireless IC device 50 is transmitted to the metal plate 30 through the loop-shaped electrode 28 and the surface boundary portion, and radiated to the reader/writer.

Incidentally, in a comparative example not including the conductive member 35, since no high-frequency signal current is transmitted between the loop-shaped electrode 28 and the back surface of the metal plate 30, the radiation A from the radiation conductor 25 only occurs, as illustrated in FIG. 5B, and no radiation occurs from the back surface of the metal plate 30.

The loop-shaped electrode 28 causes the wireless IC device 50 and the metal plate 30 to be coupled to each other, and functions as an impedance matching circuit. It is possible for the loop-shaped electrode 28 to perform impedance matching by adjusting the electrical length thereof or the like. In addition, since the loop plane of the loop-shaped electrode 28 is disposed so as to be perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to the front surface of the metal plate 30, a magnetic field is generated with respect to the front surface of the metal plate 30. Accordingly, an electric field is induced perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to the metal plate 30, a magnetic field loop is induced owing to this electric field loop, and an electromagnetic field distribution spreads due to the concatenation thereof. With this unique configuration, it is possible to realize a wireless communication device including the metal plate 30.

As illustrated in FIG. 4, it is desirable that roundness is assigned to the inner peripheral surfaces of the through holes 31 of the metal plate 30, specifically, ridge line portions in which the through holes 31 open on the front and back surfaces of the metal plate 30. This is because the high-frequency signal current c smoothly flows. In addition, it is desirable that the thickness of the metal plate 30 ranges from about 0.005 to about 0.5 times as thick as the wavelength of the high-frequency signal. More specifically, when the high-frequency signal is in a 900 MHz band, the thickness preferably is about from about 0.8 mm to about 8 cm, for example. Depending on the material (electrical conductivity) of the metal plate 30, if the thickness is within this range, it is also possible to obtain a desirable radiation gain on the back surface side of the metal plate 30.

As illustrated in FIG. 6, the wireless IC device 50 may be a wireless IC chip 51 processing a high-frequency signal, or alternatively, as illustrated in FIG. 7, the wireless IC device 50 may also be configured to include the wireless IC chip 51 and a feed circuit substrate 65 including a resonant circuit having a predetermined resonance frequency.

The wireless IC chip 51 illustrated in FIG. 6 includes a clock circuit, a logic circuit, a memory circuit, and the like, and necessary information is stored therein. On the back surface of the wireless IC chip 51, input-output-use terminal electrodes and 52 and mount-use terminal electrodes 53 and 53 are provided. The input-output-use terminal electrodes 52 and 52 are electrically connected to the power feeding portions 25 b and 25 b illustrated in the first preferred embodiment, through metal bumps or the like. In addition, as the material of the metal bump, Au, solder, or the like may be used.

As illustrated in FIG. 7, when the wireless IC device 50 is configured to include the wireless IC chip 51 and the feed circuit substrate 65, it is possible to provide various kinds of feed circuits (a resonant circuit/a matching circuit are included) in the feed circuit substrate 65. For example, as illustrated as an equivalent circuit in FIG. 8, there may be adopted a feed circuit 66 including inductance elements L1 and L2 that have inductance values different from each other and are subjected to magnetic coupling (indicated by mutual inductance M) with the phases thereof being opposite to each other. The feed circuit 66 has a predetermined resonance frequency, and establishes impedance matching between the impedance of the wireless IC chip 51 and the metal plate 30. In addition, the wireless IC chip 51 and the feed circuit 66 may be electrically connected (DC-connected) to each other, or may be coupled to each other through an electromagnetic field.

The feed circuit 66 transmits, to the metal plate 30, a high-frequency signal that is sent out from the wireless IC chip 51 and has a predetermined frequency, through the loop-shaped electrode 28, and supplies, to the wireless IC chip 51, a high-frequency signal received by the metal plate 30, through the loop-shaped electrode 28. Since the feed circuit 66 has a predetermined resonance frequency, it is easy to establish impedance matching with the metal plate 30, and it is possible to shorten the electrical length of the loop-shaped electrode 28.

Next, the configuration of the feed circuit substrate 65 will be described. As illustrated in FIG. 6 and FIG. 7, the input-output-use terminal electrode 52 of the wireless IC chip 51 is connected to feed terminal electrodes 142 a and 142 b located on the feed circuit substrate 65 and the mount-use terminal electrode 53 is connected to mounting terminal electrodes 143 a and 143 b, through metal bumps or the like.

As illustrated in FIG. 9, the feed circuit substrate 65 is preferably obtained by laminating, crimping, and firing ceramic sheets 141 a to 141 h including dielectric material or magnetic material. In this regard, however, insulation layers configuring the feed circuit substrate 65 are not limited to the ceramic sheets, and, for example, the insulation layers may be resin sheets such as thermosetting resin such as liquid crystal polymer or the like or thermoplastic resin. On the sheet 141 a serving as an uppermost layer, the feed terminal electrodes 142 a and 142 b, the mounting terminal electrodes 143 a and 143 b, and via hole conductors 144 a, 144 b, 145 a, and 145 b are provided. On each of the sheets 141 b to 141 h serving as a second layer to an eighth layer, wiring electrodes 146 a and 146 b configuring the inductance elements L1 and L2 are provided, and via hole conductors 147 a, 147 b, 148 a, and 148 b are provided as necessary.

By laminating the sheets 141 a to 141 h, the inductance element L1 is provided such that the wiring electrode 146 a is connected in a spiral shape through the via hole conductor 147 a and the inductance element L2 is provided such that the wiring electrode 146 b is connected in a spiral shape through the via hole conductor 147 b. In addition, capacitance is generated between the lines of the wiring electrodes 146 a and 146 b.

The end portion 146 a-1 of the wiring electrode 146 a on the sheet 141 b is connected to the feed terminal electrode 142 a through the via hole conductor 145 a, and the end portion 146 a-2 of the wiring electrode 146 a on the sheet 141 h is connected to the feed terminal electrode 142 b through the via hole conductors 148 a and 145 b. The end portion 146 b-1 of the wiring electrode 146 b on the sheet 141 b is connected to the feed terminal electrode 142 b through the via hole conductor 144 b, and the end portion 146 b-2 of the wiring electrode 146 b on the sheet 141 h is connected to the feed terminal electrode 142 a through the via hole conductors 148 b and 144 a.

In the above-mentioned feed circuit 66, since the inductance elements L1 and L2 are individually wound in directions opposite to each other, magnetic fields occurring in the inductance elements L1 and L2 are cancelled out. Since the magnetic fields are cancelled out, it is necessary to lengthen the wiring electrodes 146 a and 146 b to some extent, in order to obtain a desired inductance value. Accordingly, since a Q-value is lowered, the steepness of a resonance characteristic disappears and the resonance characteristic has a wider bandwidth in the vicinity of a resonance frequency.

When the perspective plane of the feed circuit substrate 65 is viewed, the inductance elements L1 and L2 are located at right and left different positions. In addition, the directions of magnetic fields occurring in the inductance elements L1 and L2 are opposite to each other. Accordingly, when the feed circuit 66 is caused to be coupled to the loop-shaped electrode 28, a reversed current is excited in the loop-shaped electrode 28 to enable a current to occur in the metal plate 30, and owing to a potential difference due to this current, it is possible to cause the metal plate 30 to operate as a radiation element (antenna).

By embedding a resonance/matching circuit into the feed circuit substrate 65, it is possible to suppress and prevent a characteristic fluctuation due to the influence of an external article, and it is possible to avoid the degradation of communication quality. In addition, when the wireless IC chip 51 configuring the wireless IC device 50 is disposed so as to be directed toward a central side in the thickness direction of the feed circuit substrate 65, it is possible to avoid the destruction of the wireless IC chip 51, and it is possible to improve a mechanical strength as the wireless IC device 50.

Second Preferred Embodiment

As illustrated in FIGS. 10A-10C, in a wireless communication device 10B according to a second preferred embodiment, through holes 32, which penetrate from a front surface to a back surface, are formed in a portion of the metal plate 30, located directly below the ground conductor 26. The other configuration is preferably the same or substantially the same as in the first preferred embodiment. In the present second preferred embodiment, the inner peripheral surface of the through hole 32 is also used as a current path portion.

More specifically, in the first preferred embodiment, since, in a region X (refer to FIG. 4) between the conductive members 35 on the back surface of the metal plate 30, a current flows whose direction is opposite to the direction of the current flowing through the loop-shaped electrode 28, it is hard for a high-frequency signal current to flow, and it is hard for a high-frequency signal to be radiated from the region X. On the other hand, in the present second preferred embodiment, since the through holes 32 are located in the region X, a high-frequency signal current flowing along the front surface of the metal plate 30 is conducted to the back surface along the inner peripheral surfaces of the through holes 32. Accordingly, since, from among the region X, a region is narrowed in which it is hard for the high-frequency signal current to flow, and a region is increased in which the high-frequency signal current flows (namely, the high-frequency signal current flows in the central portion of the region X), it is possible to cause a radiation characteristic to be improved.

In addition, since the high-frequency signal current propagates in the surface layer region of the metal plate 30, this through hole 32 may be filled with conductive material or insulating material. In addition, in the same way as described above, it is desirable that roundness is assigned to ridge line portions in which the through holes 32 open on the front and back surfaces of the metal plate 30.

Third Preferred Embodiment

As illustrated in FIGS. 11A-11C, in a wireless communication device 10C according to a third preferred embodiment of the present invention, the radiation conductor 25 provided on the front surface of the dielectric substrate 20 and the ground conductor 26 provided on the back surface thereof are connected to each other using interlayer connection conductors 29 located on the end surfaces of the dielectric substrate 20, thereby defining the loop-shaped electrode 28. Furthermore, in the metal plate 30, the conductive members 36 are arranged to electrically conduct the front and back surfaces thereof to each other and are also electrically conducted to the ground conductor 26. In the present third preferred embodiment, a high-frequency signal transmitted from the wireless IC device 50 flows, as the high-frequency signal current a, along the loop-shaped electrode 28, and is conducted to the back surface of the metal plate 30 along the conductive member 36, and a high-frequency signal is radiated from the back surface side.

In the present preferred embodiment, compared with the first preferred embodiment, since it is possible to shorten a distance between the conductive members 36, it is possible to improve a radiation efficiency by narrowing a region in which it is hard for the high-frequency signal to be radiated.

Fourth Preferred Embodiment

As illustrated in FIGS. 12A-12C, in a wireless communication device 10D according to a fourth preferred embodiment of the present invention, an aperture portion 25 c and a slit 25 d are disposed in the radiation conductor 25 provided on the front surface of the dielectric substrate 20, and a power feeding portion 25 b is formed through the slit 25 d. The ground conductor 26 provided on the back surface of the dielectric substrate 20 is a sheet of conductor (the gap 26 a is not formed), and is electrically connected to the radiation conductor 25 by the plural interlayer connection conductors 27, thereby defining the loop-shaped electrode 28. The conductive member defines a device to conduct the high-frequency signal current from the front surface of the metal plate 30 to the back surface thereof, in the same way as in the first preferred embodiment.

In the fourth preferred embodiment, the high-frequency signal transmitted from the wireless IC device 50 flows along the periphery of the aperture portion 25 c, and the periphery of the aperture portion 25 c functions as a magnetic field antenna. Accordingly, the radiation conductor 25 has a potential difference with respect to the ground conductor 26, and the radiation conductor 25 functions as a patch antenna with the ground conductor 26 serving as a ground electrode. According to such a simple configuration, it is also possible to realize a wireless communication device including the metal plate 30. As described in the above-mentioned first preferred embodiment, a high-frequency signal is also radiated from the back surface side of the metal plate 30 connected to the ground conductor 26.

Fifth Preferred Embodiment

As illustrated in FIGS. 13A-13C, in a wireless communication device 10E according to a fifth preferred embodiment, the ground conductor 26 is embedded in the interlayer of the dielectric substrate 20, both end portions thereof are caused to be exposed from both end surfaces of the dielectric substrate 20, and the ground conductor 26 is a sheet of conductor (the gap 26 a is not formed). The other configuration in the present fifth preferred embodiment is preferably the same as in the first preferred embodiment, and the radiation state of the high-frequency signal is also the same as in the first preferred embodiment. In particular, in the present fifth preferred embodiment, since the ground conductor 26 is embedded in the dielectric substrate 20, the insulating adhesive 22 is not used when the dielectric substrate 20 is attached to the metal plate 30, and it is possible to directly crimp the dielectric substrate 20 using the conductive member 35. In addition, since both end portions of the ground conductor 26 are exposed from both end surfaces of the dielectric substrate 20, a high-frequency signal current flowing along the front surface of the metal plate 30 is increased.

Sixth Preferred Embodiment

As illustrated in FIGS. 14A and 14B, in a wireless communication device 10F that is a sixth preferred embodiment, the loop-shaped electrode 28 including the radiation conductor 25, the ground conductor 26, and the interlayer connection conductor 29 has the same configuration as that of the third preferred embodiment, and the wireless communication device 10F differs in that the conductive member 36 electrically conducting the front and back surfaces of the metal plate 30 to each other is capacitively coupled to the ground conductor 26. In the present sixth preferred embodiment, a reversed current d is induced on the front surface of the metal plate 30 with respect to the high-frequency signal current a flowing through the ground conductor 26, and the induced current d is conducted to the back surface of the metal plate 30 through the vicinity of the surface boundary between the conductive member 36 and the through hole 33. By being subjected to capacitive coupling in this way, it is possible to cause the dielectric substrate 20 to easily adhere to the metal plate 30, and it is possible to thermally insulate the ground conductor 26 and the metal plate 30 from each other while the ground conductor 26 and the metal plate 30 are electrically connected to each other.

Seventh Preferred Embodiment

As illustrated in FIG. 15, in a wireless communication device 10G according to a seventh preferred embodiment of the present invention, the loop-shaped electrode 28 including the radiation conductor 25, the ground conductor 26, and the interlayer connection conductor 27 preferably has the same configuration as that of the first preferred embodiment, and in the metal plate 30, through holes 32 that penetrate from a front surface to a back surface are formed in a portion located directly below the ground conductor 26. The conductive member 35 is not provided, and the dielectric substrate 20 is fixed to the front surface of the metal plate 30 using the insulating adhesive 22.

In the present seventh preferred embodiment, the reversed current d is induced on the front surface of the metal plate 30 with respect to the high-frequency signal current a flowing through the ground conductor 26, and the induced current d is conducted to the back surface of the metal plate 30 through the vicinity of the inner peripheral surfaces of the through holes 32.

In addition, since the high-frequency signal current d propagates in the surface layer region of the metal plate 30, this through hole 32 may be filled with conductive material or insulating material. In addition, in the same way as described above, it is desirable that roundness is assigned to ridge line portions in which the through holes 32 open on the front and back surfaces of the metal plate 30.

Eighth Preferred Embodiment

As illustrated in FIG. 16, in a wireless communication device 10H that is an eighth preferred embodiment, a screw member severs as the conductive member 35, and this screw member is screwed from the back surface of the metal plate 30 into the ground conductor 26. Owing to this screw member, the front surface and back surface of the metal plate 30 are electrically connected to each other, and the leading end of the screw member is electrically connected to the ground conductor 26. The other configuration preferably is the same as that of the first preferred embodiment, and the high-frequency signal current flowing through the ground conductor 26 is conducted to the back surface side of the metal plate 30 with the surface boundary portion between the screw member and the metal plate 30 serving as a current path portion.

Ninth Preferred Embodiment

As illustrated in FIG. 17, a wireless communication device 10I that is a ninth preferred embodiment preferably has the same configuration as that of the first preferred embodiment, and the dielectric substrate 20 is fixed to the front surface of the metal plate 30 by crimping the conductive member 35 through no insulating adhesive. The ground conductor 26 is electrically in contact with the front surface of the metal plate 30, and also electrically conducted to the conductive member 35. In the present ninth preferred embodiment, the high-frequency signal current flowing through the ground conductor 26 is also conducted to the back surface side of the metal plate 30 with the surface boundary portion between the conductive member 35 and the metal plate 30 defining a current path portion.

Other Preferred Embodiments

In addition, a wireless communication device and a metal article according to the present invention are not limited to the above-mentioned preferred embodiments, and various modifications may occur insofar as they are within the scope thereof.

In particular, a metal article to which the wireless communication device is attached may be various scaffolding members used for a building site in addition to the above-mentioned stepladder or may be a metal article used for the wide range of application other than the scaffolding members. More specifically, a metal article that has not fundamentally functioned as an antenna may be used as a radiation element.

As described above, preferred embodiments of the present invention are useful for a wireless communication device and a metal article, and in particular, is superior in terms of the fact that a radiation gain becomes large not only on a surface mounted to a metal plate or a metal member but also on a surface opposite to the mounting surface.

While preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described above, it is to be understood that variations and modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention. The scope of the present invention, therefore, is to be determined solely by the following claims. 

1. A wireless communication device comprising: a wireless IC device configured to process a high-frequency signal; a radiation conductor coupled to the wireless IC device; a ground conductor connected to the radiation conductor; and a metal plate including first and second main surfaces arranged such that the ground conductor is coupled to the first main surface and a portion that defines a radiation element; wherein the metal plate includes a current path portion arranged to conduct a high-frequency signal current on a first main surface side to a second main surface side of the metal plate when a high-frequency signal is supplied from the wireless IC device through the radiation conductor and the ground conductor; and a conductive member electrically conducting the first main surface and the second main surface of the metal plate to each other is provided in the metal plate; and the current path portion is located in a surface boundary portion between the conductive member and the metal plate.
 2. The wireless communication device according to claim 1, wherein the radiation conductor is provided on a first main surface of a dielectric substrate, and includes a power feeding portion connected to the wireless IC device, and the radiation conductor and the ground conductor are connected to each other through an interlayer connection conductor.
 3. The wireless communication device according to claim 2, further comprising: a loop-shaped electrode including the radiation conductor, the ground conductor, and the interlayer connection conductor arranged to extend from the power feeding portion; wherein a loop plane of the loop-shaped electrode is disposed so as to be perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to the first main surface of the metal plate.
 4. The wireless communication device according to claim 1, wherein the conductive member is electrically connected to the ground conductor.
 5. The wireless communication device according to claim 1, further comprising: a through hole provided in the metal plate and penetrating through the first main surface and the second main surface of the metal plate; wherein the current path portion is provided in a peripheral surface portion of the through hole.
 6. The wireless communication device according to claim 1, wherein the wireless IC device is a wireless IC chip arranged to process a high-frequency signal.
 7. The wireless communication device according to claim 1, wherein the wireless IC device includes a wireless IC chip arranged to process a high-frequency signal and a feed circuit substrate including a feed circuit that has a predetermined resonance frequency.
 8. A metal article comprising: a wireless communication device; and a metal plate; wherein the wireless communication device includes: a wireless IC device configured to process a high-frequency signal; a radiation conductor coupled to the wireless IC device, and a ground conductor connected to the radiation conductor; wherein the metal plate includes a current path portion arranged to conduct a high-frequency signal current on a first main surface side to a second main surface side of the metal plate when a high-frequency signal is supplied from the wireless IC device through the radiation conductor and the ground conductor; and a conductive member electrically conducting the first main surface and the second main surface of the metal plate to each other is provided in the metal plate; and the current path portion is located in a surface boundary portion between the conductive member and the metal plate. 